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had been made； and the whole face of the outcrop was exposed； in three
weeks every vestige of former tenancy which the fire had not consumed
was trampled out by the alien feet of these toilers of the 〃Sylvan Silver
Hollow Company。〃 None of Key's former companions would have
recognized the hollow in its blackened leveling and rocky foundation；
even Collinson would not have remembered this stripped and splintered
rock； with its heaps of fresh debris； as the place where he had overtaken
Key。 And Key himself had forgotten； in his triumph； everything but the
chance experiment that had led to his success。
Perhaps it was well； therefore； that one night； when the darkness had
mercifully fallen upon this scene of sylvan desolation； and its still more
incongruous and unsavory human restoration； and the low murmur of the
pines occasionally swelled up from the unscathed mountain…side； a loud
shout and the trampling of horses' feet awoke the dwellers in the shanty。
Springing to their feet； they hurriedly seized their weapons and rushed out；
only to be confronted by a dark； motionless ring of horsemen； two flaming
torches of pine knots； and a low but distinct voice of authority。 In their
excitement； half…awakened suspicion； and confusion； they were affected
by its note of calm preparation and conscious power。
〃Drop those gunshold up your hands！ We've got every man of you
covered。〃
Key was no coward； the men； though flustered； were not cravens： but
they obeyed。 〃Trot out your leader！ Let him stand out there； clear；
beside that torch！〃
One of the gleaming pine knots disengaged itself from the dark circle
and moved to the centre； as Preble Key； cool and confident； stepped beside
it。
〃That will do；〃 said the immutable voice。 〃Now； we want Jack Riggs；
Sydney Jack； French Pete； and One…eyed Charley。〃
A vivid reminiscence of the former night scene in the hollowof his
own and his companions voices raised in the darknessflashed across Key。
With an instinctive premonition that this invasion had something to do
with the former tenant； he said calmly：
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
〃Who wants them？〃
〃The State of California；〃 said the voice。
〃The State of California must look further；〃 returned Key in his old
pleasant voice； 〃there are no such names among my party。〃
〃Who are you？〃
〃The manager of the 'Sylvan Silver Hollow Company；' and these are
my workmen。
There was a hurried movement； and the sound of whispering in the
hitherto dark and silent circle； and then the voice rose again：
〃You have the papers to prove that？〃
〃Yes； in the cabin。 And you？〃
〃I've a warrant to the sheriff of Sierra。〃
There was a pause； and the voice went on less confidently：
〃How long have you been here？〃
〃Three weeks。 I came here the day of the fire and took up this
claim。〃
〃There was no other house here？〃
〃There were ruins；you can see them still。 It may have been a burnt…
up cabin。〃
The voice disengaged itself from the vague background and came
slowly forwards：
〃It was a den of thieves。 It was the hiding…place of Jack Riggs and
his gang of road agents。 I've been hunting this spot for three weeks。
And now the whole thing's up！〃
There was a laugh from Key's men； but it was checked as the owner of
the voice slowly ranged up beside the burning torch and they saw his face。
It was dark and set with the defeat of a brave man。
〃Won't you come in and take something？〃 said Key kindly。
〃No。 It's enough fool work for me to have routed ye out already。 But
I suppose it's all in my dd day's work！ Good…night！ Forward there！
Get！〃
The two torches danced forwards； with the trailing off of vague
shadows in dim procession； there was a clatter over the rocks and they
were gone。 Then； as Preble Key gazed after them； he felt that with them
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
had passed the only shadow that lay upon his great fortune； and with the
last tenant of the hollow a proscribed outlaw and fugitive； he was
henceforth forever safe in his claim and his discovery。 And yet； oddly
enough； at that moment； as he turned away； for the first time in three
weeks there passed before his fancy with a stirring of reproach a vision of
the face that he had seen at the window。
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
CHAPTER III。
Of the great discovery in Sylvan Silver Hollow it would seem that
Collinson as yet knew nothing。 In spite of Key's fears that he might stray
there on his return from Skinner's； he did not； nor did he afterwards revisit
the locality。 Neither the news of the registry of the claim nor the arrival
of Key's workmen ever reached him。 The few travelers who passed his
mill came from the valley to cross the Divide on their way to Skinner's；
and returned by the longer but easier detour of the stage…road over
Galloper's Ridge。 He had no chance to participate in the prosperity that
flowed from the opening of the mine； which plentifully besprinkled
Skinner's settlement； he was too far away to profit even by the chance
custom of Key's Sabbath wandering workmen。 His isolation from
civilization （for those who came to him from the valley were rude Western
emigrants like himself） remained undisturbed。 The return of the
prospecting party to his humble hospitality that night had been an
exceptional case； in his characteristic simplicity he did not dream that it
was because they had nowhere else to go in their penniless condition。 It
was an incident to be pleasantly remembered； but whose nonrecurrence
did not disturb his infinite patience。 His pork barrel and flour sack had
been replenished for other travelers； his own wants were few。
It was a day or two after the midnight visit of the sheriff to Silver
Hollow that Key galloped down the steep grade to Collinson's。 He was
amused； albeit； in his new importance； a little aggrieved also； to find that
Collinson had as usual confounded his descent with that of the generally
detached boulder； and that he was obliged to add his voice to the general
uproar。 This brought Collinson to his door。
〃I've had your hoss hobbled out among the chickweed and clover in
the green pasture back o' the mill； and he's picked up that much that he's
lookin' fat and sassy；〃 he said quietly； beginning to mechanically unstrap
Key's bridle； even while his guest was in the act of dismounting。 〃His
back's quite healed up。〃
Key could not restrain a shrug of impatience。 It was three weeks
since they had met；three weeks crammed with excitement； energy；
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achievement； and fortune to Key； and yet this place and this man were as
stupidly unchanged as when he had left them。 A momentary fancy that
this was the reality； that he himself was only awakening from some
delusive dream； came over him。 But Collinson's next words were
practical。
〃I reckoned that maybe you'd write from Marysville to Skinner to send
for the hoss； and forward him to ye； for I never kalkilated you'd come
back。〃
It was quite plain from this that Collinson had heard nothing。 But it
was also awkward； as Key would now have to tell the whole story； and
reveal the fact that he had been really experimenting when Collinson
overtook him in the hollow。 He evaded this by post… dat